Health Care for All New Yorkhttp://hcfany.org
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:30:07 +0000en-UShourly1What Does the ACA Mean to You?http://hcfany.org/what-does-the-aca-mean-to-you/
http://hcfany.org/what-does-the-aca-mean-to-you/#respondThu, 08 Dec 2016 21:46:59 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11853While Congress was debating and drafting the ACA, HCFANY gathered stories about the hardships experienced by New Yorkers with no coverage at all or coverage that failed when it was most needed. Advocates in other states did the same, and those stories helped educate decision-makers about the need for health care reform.

We need to hear those stories again. HCFANY created a story form to help you tell yours. If you are unsure how the law has affected you, the story form lists some examples. One of the examples is having health insurance, which we know happened for millions of New Yorkers because of the ACA. Maybe you are a childless adult who became eligible for Medicaid for the first time. Maybe you could afford insurance again because you got a tax credit, or you were able to stay on your parents’ insurance for longer.

It is also likely that you have better insurance today than was commonly available before the ACA. Insurance companies are no longer allowed to charge you for check-ups or screenings that help people catch problems early on. They aren’t allowed to exclude pre-natal care or prescriptions, as they commonly did before the ACA. Insurance companies here in New York weren’t allowed to exclude you from purchasing a plan because of pre-existing conditions. But they were allowed to enforce waiting periods where you paid a premium but could not receive needed care for your pre-existing condition.

Tell us what this law has meant to you and your family. Going backwards to the days before the ACA should not be on the table – but it is. The best thing we can do right now is share our honest stories about why we passed the ACA in the first place.

]]>http://hcfany.org/what-does-the-aca-mean-to-you/feed/0New Study Estimates More than One Million New Yorkers Would Become Uninsured Under ACA Repealhttp://hcfany.org/new-study-estimates-more-than-one-million-new-yorkers-would-become-uninsured-under-aca-repeal/
Wed, 07 Dec 2016 18:58:21 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11849The Urban Institute released a new report today, which examines the implications of a partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through a process known as budget reconciliation. According the report’s findings, more than 1.1 million New Yorkers would become uninsured by 2019 under a partial repeal of the ACA.

New York State also stands to lose substantial funding from the federal government:

The Urban Institute estimates that New York would lose more than $10 billion by 2028 in premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, which help make health insurance more affordable for individuals and families.

The Urban Institute also estimates that New York would lose approximately $47 billion by 2028 in funding for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Although not included in the study, New York would also lose funding for its Basic Health Plan, branded the Essential Plan, which currently insures nearly 600,000 people.

Nationally, the number of uninsured is estimated to increase by 103 percent or 29.8 million people by 2019 under partial repeal. It is also estimated that there would be 12.9 million fewer people with Medicaid and CHIP coverage in 2019.

If you or someone you know would be affected by any of these issues, please share your story.

A lot of people are worried about their coverage options right now, but the first thing to know is that it is still Open Enrollment for the Marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act. Anyone who is uninsured or needs to renew should go ahead and get coverage set up for 2017.

If you are re-enrolling or are signing up for the first time and need coverage that starts on January 1, the deadline is December 15. The last day of Open Enrollment is January 31.

Both signing up and re-enrolling can be done through the NY State of Health Marketplace. The New York State of Health also funds Navigators all over the state who can help you apply, whether you are shopping for a small business, for your family, or just for yourself. The Navigators receive special training and are certified by the state. They know the plans inside and out and will help you understand your options. You can even make appointments to get help in-person.

You can look for a Navigator near you using the directory available here. The Community Service Society is one of the Navigator agencies and provides a helpline at 888-614-5400. Don’t be shy about calling – there are a lot of choices and it can be a big decision.

]]>http://hcfany.org/its-still-open-enrollment-get-covered-for-2017/feed/0HCFANY Supports the ACAhttp://hcfany.org/hcfany-supports-the-aca/
Wed, 09 Nov 2016 17:11:24 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11802Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 20 million Americans have enrolled in health insurance, and the uninsured rate has sunk to the lowest level on record. In New York, our ACA marketplace, the New York State of Health, has enrolled more than 2.8 million New Yorkers into high quality affordable coverage. New York’s uninsurance rate was cut in half between 2013 and 2015.

The ACA provides free coverage or subsidized coverage to the vast majority of New Yorkers obtaining coverage on the NY State of Health marketplace. The new Essential Plan provides free or low-cost coverage to almost 600,000 New Yorkers. The ACA also makes insurance work better for consumers. The extensive list of consumer protections it offers includes: preventive care with no cost-sharing; an end to lifetime and annual limits; a prohibition on discrimination in health care; and no more denials or delays of coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

HCFANY knows that many consumers woke up this morning worrying about whether they will lose the coverage they count on because of threats to repeal the ACA.

HCFANY calls on our elected leaders to assuage their fears and act as soon as practicable to maintain the advances in coverage that New Yorkers have received since the ACA was enacted. New York has always been a leader on health coverage issues. We look to the leadership of New York State to continue to find ways to provide quality, affordable coverage for all New Yorkers.

Open enrollment for 2017 coverage continues, and consumers should enroll or renew their coverage at the NY State of Health. Navigators are also available to help consumers review their options.

]]>ACA Makes Important Strides in Reducing Health Coverage Disparitieshttp://hcfany.org/aca-makes-important-strides-in-reducing-health-coverage-disparities/
Mon, 07 Nov 2016 19:20:16 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11790Last week, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a new issue brief examining health coverage by race and ethnicity under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on disparities in health coverage. The KFF analysis found that non-elderly people of color have experienced larger coverage gains than non-elderly white people since the implementation of the ACA. According to KFF data, national uninsured rates decreased by 9 percentage points for Hispanic/Latino people, 7 percentage points for Asian people, and 5 percentage points for non-Hispanic Black people from 2013 to 2015 compared to 4 percentage points for white people.

People of color in New York State have experienced similar gains in coverage under the ACA. According to data from the United States Census Bureau, uninsured rates in New York State decreased by 10.2 percentage points for American Indian/Alaskan Native people, 7.3 percentage points for Hispanic/Latino people, 6.3 percentage points for Asian people, and 4.9 percentage points for non-Hispanic Black people from 2013 to 2015 compared to 3.3 percentage points for white people. The only group that did not experience these comparatively larger coverage gains was the Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander population.

This an important step forward in the reduction of health coverage disparities. However, the KFF brief warns that even with the larger coverage gains, people of color are still more likely to be uninsured than white people. Nationally, people of color accounted for more than half of the 28.5 million remaining uninsured in 2015.

Targeted outreach and enrollment efforts to reach the remaining uninsured, many of whom are eligible for coverage as well as financial assistance, could augment these coverage gains and continue the progress toward health coverage equity that has already begun under the ACA.

]]>Open Enrollment is HERE!http://hcfany.org/open-enrollment-is-here/
Tue, 01 Nov 2016 21:31:15 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11785Today, November 1, is the first day of open enrollment on the NY State of Health (NYSOH) Marketplace. New Yorkers can now enroll in coverage for the first time or renew their coverage by visiting NYSOH here. Since the first open enrollment period in 2013, more than 2.8 million New Yorkers have signed up for health insurance through the Marketplace. We can continue to make progress by making sure more New Yorkers get enrolled and that those who are covered maintain their coverage.

The New York Times even published a fun graphic to help consumers choose an appropriate Marketplace or employer-sponsored health insurance plan. There are also even more options to make this process easier with Navigators who can provide in-person enrollment assistance.

A few important dates for new enrollees:

The Fourth Open Enrollment Period begins today November 1, 2016, and continues through January 31, 2017.

To get coverage that begins January 1, 2017 you must enroll by December 15, 2016.

For coverage starting February 1, 2017 you must enroll between December 16, 2016 and January 15, 2017.

For coverage starting March 1, 2017 you must enroll between January 16, 2017 and January 31, 2017.

For returning consumers, the re-certification period begins on November 15, 2016:

To make sure you do not have a gap in coverage, you must renew your coverage between November 15, 2016 and December 15, 2016 for coverage that begins on January 1, 2017.

If you miss the re-certification deadline, you will be uninsured for a certain period of time.

Health Care For All New York believes that all children deserve affordable, quality health coverage. A new study based on census data shows that New York has made great progress towards that goal – only 2.5 percent of our kids are uninsured. The researchers, based at Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, found that only 5 percent of kids are uninsured nationally.

How did New York do it? By setting eligibility policies that include all kids who need help getting covered, and making it as easy as possible for busy families to sign up. New York State makes all children eligible for health coverage regardless of their immigration status. It provides access to public coverage through Medicaid and CHIP for children whose family income would be considered too high in other states – but not high enough to realistically pay for private health coverage. Signing up for health insurance is made easier in New York because of state-funded programs like the New York State of Health marketplace and its Navigator program, which provides community-based enrollment assistance all across the state.

We could still do more – despite our progress, New York was only 5th best in the country. Advocates and the state should keep working together to make sure the last groups of children get some type of coverage. But this is an amazing achievement, and something that all New Yorkers can celebrate.

]]>http://hcfany.org/over-97-percent-of-new-yorks-kids-now-have-health-coverage/feed/0Making Sense of Delivery System Reformhttp://hcfany.org/making-sense-of-delivery-system-reform/
Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:41:47 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11764The Affordable Care Act made a lot of changes – and improvements – to health insurance. But it was also meant to encourage changes in how health care is delivered – the care you get at the hospital, doctor’s office, pharmacy, and other places where people get health care.

Many people have frustrating experiences with health care that go beyond how it’s paid for. Maybe you can’t make an appointment without skipping work, or can’t get your prescription filled on time because of communication problems and end up skipping doses. Maybe you had to get a test done twice because re-doing it was easier than transferring your records to a new physician. Delivery system reform is meant to make the experience of getting health care better – in an ideal world, there would be seamless delivery system that lets doctors and patients focus on their health, not logistics.

HCFANY has produced a new issue brief to help consumers understand what is happening. Delivery system reform could be a great thing for everyone, but changing systems is always hard. A lot of stakeholders have learned to succeed under the status quo, and are afraid of changing how they do business. Consumers need to educate themselves about how delivery reform can benefit them and use their knowledge to encourage reform that benefits patients.

]]>Nation’s Uninsured Rate Drops to 8.6 Percent, Lowest Everhttp://hcfany.org/nations-uninsured-rate-drops-to-8-6-percent-lowest-ever/
Fri, 16 Sep 2016 16:42:18 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11756Guest blog by Lois Uttley, MPP, Director of Raising Women’s Voices-NY. Six years after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law and three years after the ACA insurance marketplaces opened, the nation’s uninsured rate has dropped to the lowest level ever recorded. Between 2010 and 2016, the percentage of people without health insurance fell by nearly half, from 16 percent to 8.6 percent. The sharp decline is illustrated in this chart from Vox. The previous low of 9.1 percent was recorded in 2015.

The new numbers were released last week by the National Center for Health Statistics, and are based on the National Interview Survey conducted during the first quarter of 2016. The survey uncovered some important variations among population groups when it comes to health insurance. For example:

Only 5 percent of children 17 and younger are now uninsured. Of those, 42.1 percent had public coverage and 54.9 percent had private coverage.

Hispanic adults had the greatest decline in un-insurance, going from 40.6 percent in 2013 to 24.5 percent in 2016. But that reduced rate was still much higher than the 2016 rates for non-Hispanic Black (13 percent), white (8.4 percent) and Asian adults (6.7 percent).

States Fully Implementing the ACA Show Biggest Drop In Uninsured

The national survey data also reveal striking disparities between rates of un-insurance in states like New York that have fully implemented the ACA – by expanding their Medicaid programs and creating their own health insurance exchanges, or marketplaces – and those that have refused to do so because of conservative political opposition.

First, let’s look at the impact of a state’s decision to expand Medicaid. In the expansion states, the percentage of uninsured adults (ages 18 to 64) dropped by half — from 18.4 percent in 2013 to 9.2 percent in 2016. By contrast, in non-expansion states, the uninsured rate fell somewhat – from 22.7 percent in 2013 to 16.7 percent in 2016 — but still remained high.

Next, let’s look at the difference in uninsured rates between states that opened their own marketplace (or partnered with the federal government to create a marketplace) and those states that refused to do so, and instead defaulted to having a federally-run marketplace. There have been significant declines in uninsured rates in states with their own marketplaces (from 18.7 percent in 2013 to 9.1 percent in 2016) and in partnership marketplace states (from 17.9 percent in 2013 to 8.2 percent this year).

The survey found a different story in the states with federally-run marketplaces. Although even those states experience a drop in the uninsured rate (from 22 percent to 14.5 percent), the 2016 percentage of residents who remain uninsured is much higher than in the other states.

]]>NYSOH Increases Outreach to Limited English Proficient Populationshttp://hcfany.org/nysoh-increases-outreach-to-limited-english-proficient-populations/
Wed, 14 Sep 2016 18:54:53 +0000http://hcfany.org/?p=11751The NY State of Health’s (NYSOH) 2016 Open Enrollment Report shows that increased efforts to reach Limited English Proficient populations are making progress. This year, 20 percent of NYSOH enrollees indicated a language other than English as their preferred language compared to 18 percent in 2015. This increase is an important reflection of the diversity of our state.

To encourage outreach, NYSOH made consumer education materials available in 23 languages other than English, including five additional languages that were not available in 2015: Burmese, Karen, Somali, Swahili, and Tigrinya. NYSOH’s Customer Service Center also provided assistance to consumers in 93 languages other than English with an average of 20 percent of all calls to the Customer Service Center each month were answered in a language other than English compared to only 14 percent in 2015. Additionally, Navigators provided assistance in 37 languages other than English.

Gaps in information remain about New York’s diverse immigrant communities and their experiences enrolling in coverage through the NYSOH. Although this year’s Open Enrollment Report provides great information about enrollment for seven languages: Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Spanish, and Russian, the report does not provide insight into whether callers in additional languages were able to enroll after reaching the call center. The NYSOH Navigator program funds enrollment but not outreach activities. Last year, HCFANY urged the State to provide dedicated outreach funding to small community-based organizations that best know difficult to reach immigrant rural populations.